Your Baby at Week 23

At around 8 inches long and a smidge over a pound, your little pup is actually looking a bit like a shar-pei — very cute, but still very wrinkly. Poised to put on pounds, baby’s birthday suit has outpaced the fat that’ll start to accumulate very soon. As a result, saggy skin hangs loosely from those little limbs like long-johns that are two sizes too big.

Your baby’s skin is also cellophane thin and has taken on a reddish cast, thanks to the vivid network of blood vessels developing underneath. Right now, it’s a look only a mother…or father…could love. Luckily, a tough, protective protein, called keratin, is being added to your baby’s skin cells, and that’ll thicken his skin as he continues to gestate in your cozy uterus. Don’t worry, his skin will be soft, sweet, and suitable for stroking by the time he checks out of Motel Mommy, and checks into your arms.

But before he’s ready to face the world outside, he’s going to have to be able to breath in it — and for that important function to function, his lungs will have some maturing to do. Right now, the maturation process is beginning — though it’ll be a while before those tiny lungs will be ready for the breathing big time. Small capillaries are forming in the lungs and specialized lung cells, called pneumocytes, are developing. These all important cells will produce surfactant down the road — the crucial substance that’ll help baby’s lungs expand after birth. But more about that later.

In the meantime, take a look at that amazing placenta — your baby’s recently completed life support system. The pancake-shaped placenta — attached to your uterine wall and connected to your growing baby by the umbilical cord — acts as a sophisticated trading post and filtering system, transferring oxygen and nutrients to your fetus, and removing waste products.

It also protects your baby, serving as a sort of fetal security checkpoint, by preventing harmful substances and infections from passing from your system into your baby’s. And as if that’s not enough to dazzle you, the placenta is also hard at work producing hormones — estrogen and progesterone — that keep your pregnancy going strong. Pretty impressive for a network of blood vessels!

At a Glance

Are You Blushing?

Baby's skin is a bit saggy (but won't be for long as fat begins forming) and has a red hue thanks to the developing veins and arteries right underneath.

Packing a Punch

Those little arms and legs are packing more of a punch these days...you might even see them poke through from the outside!

Fetal Weight Gain

At around 11 inches long and just over a pound, this week marks the beginning of some serious weight gain. Your baby should double his weight over the next four weeks alone (and you may feel as though you do, too). His skin is a bit saggy since it grows a lot faster than fat — but soon he’ll start to fit his frame as fat deposits fill things out. By the time your baby is born, he will be pleasantly plump and filled out, from chubby cheeks to chubby toes. And although at 23 weeks pregnant, your baby's organs and bones are visible through his skin (which has a red hue due to developing veins and arteries beneath), he'll become less transparent once those fat deposits settle in.

You Can Hear Baby’s Heartbeat Through a Stethoscope

You’ve probably heard your developing baby's heartbeat through a Doppler a number of times already (though you never get tired of hearing it), but by now you can also hear it through a standard stethoscope. What a heartthrob!

Your Body at Week 23

Yes, the baby you're expecting is cozily ensconced in your abdomen — yet, by now you've probably noticed that pregnancy affects you head to toe (and pretty much everywhere in between). At 23 weeks pregnant, your mind is fuzzy (this is your brain…this is your brain on progesterone) and your toes (well, your feet, at least) are growing. The palms of your hands and soles of your feet might be red and you might be more prone to heat rash and skin tags. Stretch marks are blooming in vibrant shades of pink and purple on pretty much every available surface of skin and…wait! What's that funky dark line running down the center of your belly?

Skin Discoloration

Believe it or not, it's called the "dark line" — or linea nigra. A common emblem of pregnancy that's more noticeable in darker-skinned women, the linea nigra, which runs between your belly button and your pubic area, is caused by the same pregnancy hormones responsible for all the skin discolorations you might be seeing. Like the darker shade of your areolas and the deeper tone of the freckles on your arms and legs. Some women (again, more often the darker-skinned ones) notice discoloration on the face too, especially in the area around the nose, forehead, cheeks and eyes. It's called the mask of pregnancy (or melasma) because it appears as a mask-like configuration on the face. Rest assured, you won't be playing masquerade for much longer. All these skin changes will fade within a few months after delivery. In the meantime, bring on the concealer (though not the bleaching creams, which won't work anyway).

Learning To Relax

Is your growing bundle of joy making you a quivering bundle of nerves? Breathe, baby, breathe! Now's a great time to learn some soothing relaxation techniques — not just because they can help you cope with pregnancy worries (and, soon, with labor contractions), but because they'll come in handy in your life as a new mom (for the times when the baby's on a crying marathon, your spouse is working late, you just burned the last clean pot and your mother's on the phone…again).

Yoga's a fabulous de-stresser, if you have time to take a class. But here's a pregnancy meditation technique you can use just about anywhere, anytime, to soothe your soul:

2. Working your way up from your toes to your face, concentrate on relaxing every muscle. Breathe slowly, deeply, only through your nose, and choose a simple word (such as "yes" or "one") to repeat aloud every time you exhale. Ten to 20 minutes should do the trick, though even a minute or two is better than nothing.

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 23

You may be getting used to feeling your baby’s movements in the womb. Cherish these light kicks now before they get more powerful, pronounced and sometimes painful (when baby kicks you in the ribs, abdomen or cervix so hard it hurts!). Read More

It’s perfectly normal to find yourself wanting to devour the contents of your kitchen cabinets and fridge (you have a growing baby to feed!). So try to stock your home with healthy snacks such as fruit, cut-up veggies, nuts and whole-wheat crackers. Read More

If you can’t seem to shake that ate-too-much feeling, you’re experiencing the effects of progesterone. The hormone causes the gastrointestinal tract to relax and slow down digestion, so nutrients have more time to enter your bloodstream and reach your baby. Drink more water to help keep things moving. Read More

This fairly common (and annoying) pregnancy symptom can disrupt your sleep and your partner’s. Partly due to nasal congestion caused by extra weight and swollen mucous membranes in your nose, snoring can be alleviated by wearing a nasal strip at bedtime and running a warm-mist humidifier in your bedroom. Read More

Reduce irritation to your gums (which are swelling more than usual these days due to hormones) by avoiding chewy sweets, brushing and flossing regularly and visiting the dentist at least once while you’re expecting. Read More

Swelling during pregnancy can put pressure on nerves in the wrists and cause the aching and tingling associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. If you work at a computer, take frequent hand-stretching breaks and make sure your wrists are straight and elbows aren’t higher than your hands when you’re at your desk. Read More

Tips for You This Week

Get a Good Night's Sleep

It can be almost as hard to get a good night's sleep when you're pregnant as it is when you're a new parent. In fact, according to one study, a whopping 78 percent of women experience sleep problems at some point (or many points!) during pregnancy. With all that’s going on in your body — and brain — it’s no wonder that a full night’s rest can be so elusive. If you find it hard to get comfortable, try sliding a pillow between your legs and resting with your knees bent.

Ask About Maternity Leave

While you’re weeks away from meeting baby, it’s time to start thinking about maternity leave. Connect with both HR and your supervisor to make sure you’re all on the same page.

Refill Your Water Bottle

Keep a bottle of water by your side at all times. Staying hydrated helps maintain your additional blood volume, renews amniotic fluid and bolsters milk production. Though it really varies based on your body type and size, how active you are, and so on, the general rule of thumb is somewhere between eight and 10 8-ounce glasses of water (from all sources) a day. But be sure to talk to your practitioner about what works for you and your situation.

Take Steps to Prevent UTIs

Now that it's being squished by your growing uterus, your bladder makes the perfect breeding ground for bacteria — and that can lead to a urinary tract infection (UTI). Luckily, there's a number of ways you can reduce your chances of developing a UTI during pregnancy: Drink plenty of water and cranberry juice (choose one that doesn't contain sugar). Check out your urine color often — if it's dark, not straw-colored, you're not getting enough fluids and could be setting yourself up for a UTI. Don't hold it in — pee as soon as you feel the urge (and can find a bathroom). Concentrate on completely emptying your bladder when you urinate (lean forward when peeing). Wipe from front to rear after you use the toilet. Clean your genitals and the areas surrounding them, particularly after having sex. Wear all-cotton undergarments. Take showers rather than baths whenever possible.

Reconsider Hair Treatments

You've passed your first trimester, and maybe you're thinking about a perm or body wave to restore some body or a straightening treatment to calm those curls? You might want to reconsider. There is the possibility that your hormone-infused locks will respond oddly to the chemicals (you might end up with a ball of frizz instead of a crown of ringlets). There's also a slight possibility that the substances can be absorbed through the scalp and into your bloodstream, so check with your practitioner. Highlights are considered safe by most practitioners since the product isn’t applied as close to the scalp; so are milder color treatments (all-vegetable dyes, or no-ammonia blends), so chances are you’ll be able to hide that gray or bring out (or create) those gold tones with no problem. But ask. An ultracautious practitioner or stylist may recommend against any chemical processing until after your baby is born.

Opt for Organic

Organic produce does have fewer pesticides than conventional produce (if any at all), which is a real advantage, since the pesticides you eat are shared with your baby in utero now and eventually can come through in your breast milk. It's also likely to be fresher, since it is preservative-free and therefore more perishable (which means it has to get from the farm to your table in less time than conventional produce). Opt for organic produce when it's practical, but remember that what's most important in the produce aisle is choosing a wide variety of fresh, ripe fruits and veggies in a range of colors. Just don't assume that organic means completely safe. Though they won't be treated with pesticides, organic foods can still be contaminated with bacteria, so you'll need to cook your organic meat, poultry and fish thoroughly and wash your organic produce meticulously.

Book a Pilates Class

Everybody (and their pregnant neighbor) is doing it — but is Pilates the right exercise for you? Absolutely — and it's not a stretch! This mind-body discipline focuses on strengthening your core and elongating your muscles, increasing tone, strength and flexibility — making it perfect when you're exercising for two. Choose a pregnancy Pilates class if you can, or let your instructor know you're expecting so she can modify or eliminate any inappropriate positions or movements.

Updated: May 13, 2019

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.

Recommended Products

Just so you know, What to Expect may earn commissions from the shopping links included on this page.